Major Gifts Officer

Summary

The newly created Major Gifts Officer (MGO) is a highly independent role responsible for identifying, cultivating, and securing major gifts from individual donors to support the Children’s Museum of Sonoma County (CMOSC) and its Unlock Potential! (UP!) expansion campaign. This part-time (50%) position requires exceptional communication and interpersonal skills to build strong relationships with local philanthropists, museum members, and internal stakeholders. The MGO will collaborate closely with the CEO and Director of Advancement to align fundraising efforts with institutional priorities and serves as a core member of the Advancement team, collaboratively working to advance the Museum’s general mission and achieve successful completion of the UP! campaign. This role reports to the CEO.

Job Responsibilities

• Collaborate with the CEO, Advancement team and other Museum teams to maximize fundraising opportunities, steward donors, and create compelling cases for support.
• Work closely with the CEO and Director of Advancement to design a major gift strategy aimed at increasing the overall dollars raised, and deepening relationships with CMOSC’s most committed investors.
• Secure major gifts at the $1,000 to $25,000 level with an initial goal of raising $200,000 annually, and a focus on building a scalable major gifts pipeline over time.
• Build and manage a fundraising portfolio of 100-150 active prospects.
• Identify, research, and qualify leads and donors in close consultation with the Development & Database Manager.
• Craft and execute personalized cultivation strategies and gift proposals that align donor interests with Museum priorities including the UP! campaign.
• Establish a program of face-to-face personal visits with past, current and prospective donors and make direct solicitations.
• Work closely with the Board’s Development & Marketing Committee and individual board members to ensure that the board plays a critical role in philanthropy and network building and assist them with their own solicitations (strategic counsel, help with donor communications, etc.).
• Participate in donor cultivation events at the Museum and in the community to build relationships and deepen donor engagement.
• Serve as a spokesperson for the Museum, utilizing strong communication and interpersonal skills to effectively engage donors and stakeholders.
• Support an inclusive donor engagement approach that reflects the diversity of the community CMOSC serves.
• Use Blackbaud’s Altru CRM and wealth screening tools to identify prospects and track progress, contact reports and results.
• Provide regular reports on portfolio activity, prospect pipeline, and fundraising progress towards goal.

Qualifications

• Demonstrated success in major gift fundraising with a minimum of 5-7 years of relevant professional experience, preferably with capital campaign fundraising experience.
• A thorough understanding of North Bay philanthropy and key community leaders in the arts and child-centered sectors.
• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills; ability to build relationships and inspire action from donors.
• Comfort with public speaking.
• Ability to work effectively in a team setting and independently with little supervision.
• Excellent attention to detail and a sense of pride in work.
• Ability to remain highly organized in a multi-faceted organization and drive towards goals.
• Utilizes a high degree of discretion, particularly as it pertains to sensitive donor information.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office and fundraising systems, Blackbaud Altru preferred.
• Bachelor’s Degree required, bilingual skills a plus.
• Must be available to work occasional weekends and evenings as needed.

Physical Requirements

• Must be able to lift at least 30 pounds.
• Must be able to stand or sit for long periods of time.

Position Details

This is a half-time (up to 20 hours per week), hourly, non-exempt position with benefits, reporting to the CEO.

Pay range: $38.50 to $57.75 per hour.

Please Note: This position requires a mandatory background security screening.

To Apply

Email your cover letter, résumé, and three (3) references as a PDF or Microsoft Word attachment with the subject

line: “Major Gifts Officer – your name” to jobs@cmosc.org.

About the Children’s Museum of Sonoma County

The Children’s Museum of Sonoma County (CMOSC) is a non-profit organization founded in 2005 with the mission to inspire curiosity and creativity through joyful, transformative experiences.

The Children's Museum of Sonoma County is an Equal Opportunity Employer.